Bixa Orellana cultivation silently blooms in ASR dist

As many as 400 farmers cultivating rare flower in 1,240 acres

- USHA PERI @ Visakhapatnam

ALLURI Sitharama Raju district's Agency areas, widely recognised for their coffee production and other forest produce, are now witnessing a steady rise in the lesser-known yet promising crop - Bixa orellana - commonly known as Sinduri in Sanskrit and Uragumanjal in Tamil.

This neotropical, fast-growing perennial tree, valued for its seeds rich in carotenoid pigments like bixin, is proving to be both economically and socially beneficial for tribal farmers. These seeds are primarily used as natural pigments in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.

Additionally, the plant holds potential medicinal properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic effects.